A 15-year-old boy who killed his passenger by riding an e-scooter through a red light has been handed an 18-month youth referral order and a five-year driving ban. The boy, who cannot be named due to his age, pleaded guilty to causing the death of 14-year-old Jacob Calland by dangerous driving.
The fatal crash
On March 19, 2025, the 15-year-old rode the e-scooter, which had been purchased online, through a red light onto a busy dual carriageway. He collided with a BMW, throwing both him and his passenger into the air before they hit a stationary Peugeot. The rider suffered a bleed on the brain and multiple fractures. Jacob sustained a catastrophic, irreversible brain injury and died eight days later when his family withdrew life support.
Jacob's mother, Carly, said at the sentencing hearing on June 30: "I will never forget when doctors told me there was nothing more that could be done. My entire world stopped. I could not stop his pain or make anything better. Nurses helped me to take a lock of his hair and I fell asleep holding him. When it was time to turn the machine off, I told him I loved him. A part of me is lost forever."
Campaign for change
Carly expressed disappointment with the sentence, calling it "a slap on the wrist." She has launched a campaign called 'Jacob's Journey' to push for stricter regulation of e-scooters. Her petition, which gathered nearly 32,000 signatures, led to a meeting with MPs Simon Lightwood and Mike Kane at Westminster in November 2024. The government has reportedly committed to reforming the law and will involve Carly in consultations.
Carly does not want e-scooters banned outright but wants them legal for over-18s with strict regulation, including mandatory helmets, insurance, provisional licenses, and theory tests. She also supports a ban on sales and use for under-18s, stating: "You wouldn't let your child drive a car, so you shouldn't let them on an e-scooter." She called for police to enforce existing laws more rigorously and for parents to be punished for allowing illegal use.
Police response
Greater Manchester Police have vowed to crack down on illegal e-scooter use, seizing 38 in a single day of action earlier this month. Detective Constable Steve Pennington said: "E-scooters are not harmless toys and they can lead to horrific consequences when used by inexperienced riders. I would urge parents to check what their children are using and to ensure they are educated about the risks."
Currently, riding a private e-scooter on public roads is illegal. Rental e-scooters are legal in some areas but require a provisional license, insurance, and riders must be at least 18. Despite this, youths on e-scooters at high speeds are common, often linked to anti-social behavior.
Remembering Jacob
Carly described Jacob as a "cheeky chappie" and a "loving boy" with a bright future. "He didn't deserve this. I hope I'm doing him proud. The campaign has been a little quiet lately with this hanging over me but it's been going really well, and it's going to blow up now," she said.
